Piccadilly Line Closure Affects Hendon Travel
Essential testing for new trains will cause significant disruption to services.
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Passengers travelling to Heathrow and Uxbridge face substantial disruption this week due to planned closures on the Piccadilly line. From Thursday, July 30, until Sunday, August 2, the line will be shut between Acton Town and Heathrow. Additionally, the section between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge will also be closed during the same dates. These closures will impact overnight travel, affecting Night Tube services on the Piccadilly line.
Testing New Fleet
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Transport for London (TfL) stated that this extensive upgrade and testing programme is crucial for preparing the line for the introduction of new trains later this year. Engineers have already conducted weight-loading tests to simulate full carriages and have prepared 119 platforms to accommodate the new rolling stock. The new trains, due to enter service between December and June next year, will feature walk-through carriages, wider doors, digital displays, CCTV, and increased capacity. TfL anticipates that the new fleet will allow for an increase in service frequency from 24 to 27 trains per hour.
Alternative Travel Options
While the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express offer alternative daytime routes to Heathrow, the Piccadilly line closure specifically affects overnight journeys on Friday and Saturday nights. For those needing to travel to Heathrow during these overnight periods, TfL recommends the N9 bus service from Heathrow to Piccadilly Circus as the most suitable option. Other alternatives include National Express and FlixBus coaches, or private taxis.
Heathrow Expansion Costs to Affect Passengers
The airport can recover £320m in early expansion costs, leading to potential fare increases.
““We are very confident that once this intensive period of upgrades and testing is completed, and the new trains start to enter service, our customers will reap the benefits of moving around the capital on these game-changing new trains.””
Stuart Harvey, TfL's chief capital officer
Stuart Harvey, TfL's chief capital officer, acknowledged the necessity of these closures for testing the new trains and their interaction with existing infrastructure. He expressed confidence that passengers would benefit from the enhanced journeys provided by the new fleet once the upgrades are complete. Further midweek closures affecting the Cockfosters to Uxbridge stretch are scheduled for August 18-20 and August 25-27.
Barnet Press News Desk
This article was written at the Barnet Press news desk from the reporting of the outlets listed below it. Drafting is done by a language model under human editorial supervision — there is no reporter behind this byline, and we would rather say so than invent one.
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